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Tuesday, July 17, 2012

15 Questions with #Fantasy #Author Mark Tierno #AuthorInterview

Today, we have Mark Tierno, author of the Maldene Series. Mark has literally built a planet and a new set of physical laws where time and space are computed differently than in our world.

Q: Tell us a little something of your
background.

A: Well, I have a Masters in physics and second
BS in Math, spent about a couple of decades helping my Mom out with my
Parkinson's Disease stricken father, then another 8 years after he passed
taking care of her. I spent the 15 years
of that parental care writing my books.

Q: I'm sure it gave your parents happiness to see you doing something creative. When you were young, did you always want to write?

A: I was always a heavy reader, particularly of
fantasy and science fiction, and someplace around about age 12, I began to see myself
writing up some sort of story. Problem
was I hated the physical effort of handwriting or typing and wasn't yet sure
what that story would be. Well, fast
forward a while and I'd been assembling the story in my head and then the Eaton
Canyon fire happened. My grandpa's old
house burned down- he'd been long gone but my Mom had never had the heart to
sell the place. It did, though, bring in insurance money, which gave the
household a bit more freedom (the Parkinson's having drained all financial reserves). I got a computer, and with it a word
processor. No more handwriting, no more
liquid paper, hallelujah! So I started
on my books, and as a side effect the act of doing so injected a much needed
feeling of hope into the household.

Q: That is wonderful. The act of creation injecting hope. What
is the genre of your work?

A: My "Maldene" series is basically
epic fantasy, but later in the series some strong SF elements creep in there as
well. I like doing mixed genre.

Q: Me too. So hard to narrow myself into a genre bucket. Tell me a little something about your current
work.

A: Maldene is the start of an epic fantasy that
begins with a group of characters seeking fortune and destiny, unknowing that
they are to be key players in a battle that has raged for all of what is known
of as recorded History. A wizard named
Miro (pronounced My-Ro) is an evil of legend, feared, it is said, even by the
gods. Throughout History he has been
responsible for the destruction of many a civilization, but what his exact
motives and goals are a complete mystery.

This
first novel is currently published as 2 volumes, has about 20 characters, and
is about the length of the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. There are 13 books in all and a lot more
characters, places, and plot lines.

Q: You certainly have a lot on your plate. When working on a book, what is your typical writing schedule like? How long do you work, how much do you write,
and how do you keep at it? Do you have
to have a certain type of environment (music, at home or in a café, etc..)?

A: I start in the morning, go for about 8-10
hours, and crank out around 12,000 to 13,000 words, sometimes more. At night I edit, then the next day I finish
up what's left of the chapter. Day three
I go back and edit and spell-check the whole thing, outline the next chapter,
then start the whole process over again on day four. I just seal myself up in my room, put on some
music, and have at it.

Q: Yikes! 12-13K words a day. How much discipline is required when working
on a book and how hard or easy is it for you to maintain it?

A: It's real easy once I get the music
going. If you love what you're doing,
then 10 hours is nothing. I come out of
a long writing session often feeling refreshed.

Q: How much background detail do you generate
for the world in which you write, and how much of it actually directly ends up
in the story?

A: I have a lot of background details. From weather patterns to my own alphabet, I
have an entire notebook of notes, enough to fill out a complete world. I even have a database with complete info on
each and every character. Some of the
detail does end up directly in the books, others indirectly in the way of what
some characters will say or do.

For
instance, my map is of the entire world, even places where the characters might
never go. They may, however, mention
some in passing, such as the running gag of a place called The Farlands. Never a place anyone ever wants to go to,
more like escape from, it is a lackluster place populated by the descendants of
shipwrecked sailors. So being said to
come from a place like the Farlands, means you really lived out in the sticks.

Q: Definitely what Tolkien did. He created his own language and everything. Was there anyone particularly influential in,
or supportive of, your writing?

A: My Mom was a great support. During times in which I was down on myself,
opening criticizing myself for my lack of success and employment, she would
tell me "Mark, you have 2 jobs:
taking care of me and your father and you're an author. Now shut up and get back to work." Or words to that effect, but she always meant
it in a good way. My Dad also became
supportive in his own way. he went from
"when are you going to get a job" to "when are you going to get
a publisher." He had no idea how
funny I thought it was to hear him say something like that. I also found out years after he'd passed away
that in his youth HE had wanted to become a writer.

Q: I'm glad you were so close with them. In a way, you fulfilled their dreams. Have you ever suffered that dreaded writer’s
block and how do you cope with it?

A:
Writer's what? I always prepare myself
properly before each book, and seem to have an imagination that won't
quite. Writer's block to me is a thing I
hear about but never suffer.

Q: Me either. I have writer's run of the mouth. What is the easiest aspect of writing and
what is the most difficult?

A: Easiest is the writing part. Hardest is anything having to do with the
real world, like finding a publisher or agent.
I prefer my fantasy world.

Q: How much rejection did you have to go through
with before getting your first novel published and how to you deal with it?

A:
Tons! I inquired with about 150 literary
agents. Seems as the words "Fantasy
and SF" along with "new guy" are a deadly combination.

Q: What is the current status of your book and
where can we get it.

A: Currently I am prepping for a relaunch,
starting with a new custom designed cover, which can be previewed in its
in-progress state at my site, www.maldene.com.
Once the cover is done expect to see Maldene with an entirely new
publisher.

Also at
maldene.com you can read a sample chapter, or listen to a recording of me
reading it myself, not to mention all sorts of little extras.

Q: What final words do you have for any
potential authors?

A: Write what you love, what is in your soul,
and do no write the market as others would advise. Only when you write the story within you will
you ever be able to do your very best.

I agree. And it's been great chatting with you, Mark. I wish you great success with your writing and the relaunch of your Maldene series.